The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have reaffirmed their commitment to enhanced collaboration aimed at strengthening maritime security operations under the Federal Government’s Deep Blue Project.
The renewed partnership was underscored during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, to the Chief of Air Staff, S. K. Aneke, at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
Speaking during the visit, Mobereola described the Air Force as a critical strategic partner in sustaining the gains recorded under the Deep Blue Project, particularly in tactical air surveillance and rapid response capabilities.
He noted that Nigeria has maintained a record of zero piracy incidents in the last four years, attributing the achievement to the deployment of Deep Blue Project assets and inter-agency collaboration in the Gulf of Guinea.
“We are here to seek the Air Force’s support given the importance of tactical air surveillance to the Deep Blue Project. The platforms deployed have helped us achieve zero piracy and sea robberies in the Gulf of Guinea, and we need continued collaboration to sustain this momentum,” Mobereola said.
The NIMASA boss emphasized that maritime security remains vital to international trade, stressing that vessels prefer destinations where safety is guaranteed. He added that increased maritime traffic along Nigerian routes necessitates stronger collaboration to mitigate security risks and enhance trade competitiveness.
Mobereola expressed optimism that deeper synergy with the Air Force would significantly reduce response times to maritime threats and reinforce Nigeria’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.
In his response, Air Marshal Aneke reaffirmed the Air Force’s commitment to working closely with NIMASA to consolidate maritime security gains. He stated that the NAF is prepared to support the agency “step by step and side by side” to achieve shared objectives.
Aneke proposed the establishment of a joint strategic framework, integrated command structures, and a standing steering committee to strengthen coordination under the Deep Blue Project. He also advocated for the creation of a joint maritime domain awareness fusion cell to enable real-time intelligence sharing, synchronized surveillance, and faster operational responses.
Beyond Deep Blue operations, the Air Force Chief said the NAF could provide additional Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, tactical air support, and rapid airborne deployment for interdictions and search-and-rescue missions.
While commending NIMASA for providing foundational training to aircraft pilots involved in the Deep Blue Project, Aneke highlighted operational challenges requiring attention. These include improving communication between NAF operators and NIMASA, expanding advanced maintenance training, ensuring timely aircraft fueling to avoid mission delays, and providing adequate flying kits.
He pledged the Air Force’s full cooperation, assuring that steps would be taken to accelerate joint efforts and enhance operational effectiveness moving forward.
The Deep Blue Project, a multi-layered maritime security initiative, continues to serve as the cornerstone of Nigeria’s efforts to combat piracy and secure its maritime domain.
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